Hello, Thursday!

☀️ Today's weather: Sunny, with a high approaching 80.

🗓️ Save the date: Join us as we post up after work next Thursday to chat with some special guests about the future of Texas politics.

• We'll let you know about the exact time and venue in coming days.

Today’s newsletter is 844 words — a 3-minute read.

With Democrats snatching political power in Texas from the GOP, a raft of issues — from abortion access to THC — will suddenly be in play in the new year.

Why it matters: The extent of the Texas Democratic wave came into sharper focus yesterday.

State of play: Democrats have won control of the Texas House, going from 62 seats in the 150-member chamber to at least 76, the AP projected yesterday afternoon.

• As of January, Democrats will control the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, agriculture commissioner and land commissioner. And when the House convenes in January, members are likely to elect a Democratic speaker as well.
• Democrats also won nine statewide appeals court seats — ousting eight Republican incumbents. A Democrat was leading in the vote counting in a 10th judicial post yesterday afternoon.

Yes, but: The GOP retained its majority in the Texas Senate.

The big picture: An unpopular president and his policies drove votes for Democrats more than any other factor, political scientists tell Axios.

• Texas remains, in spirit, a red state, according to SMU political science professor Cal Jillson, but Democrats will be increasingly competitive in future elections.

The intrigue: Democrats "earned an opportunity to solve some of the problems that voters believe Republicans ignored, and those problems will be very difficult to address," Jillson tells Axios.

• As they try to show they're worthy of voters' continuing trust, he says, they will have to tread carefully to ensure their changes don't seem too dramatic or too expensive for Texans.

What we're watching: How the incoming Texas leaders will approach transgender, abortion and gun rights during their tenure, if at all.

The bottom line: "Now the question is, what do Democrats, some of whom didn't expect to be in office, intend to do with their new authority?" Jillson says.

Several legislative hot topics may be back in play as Democrats take control of Texas politics.

Here's what we're watching...

The election's likely winners

💨 Hemp purveyors and consumers: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick was zealous in his opposition to marijuana use. Not so for Lt. Gov.-elect Vikki Goodwin, who said earlier this week with regard to cannabis: "We should legalize and regulate and respect the personal freedom of Texans."

💸 Sports gambling: Ditto betting — Patrick nearly single-handedly quashed efforts to legalize betting that emerged from the Texas House. Goodwin has endorsed putting the matter to a statewide referendum.

🎒 Public schools and teachers: With Gina Hinojosa, a former Austin ISD school board president, occupying the governor's office, expect lawmakers to dedicate more money to public schools. Broader state budget issues notwithstanding, teachers could see a pay bump.

🩺 Women's health advocates: Lawmakers are likely to look for ways to loosen state abortion restrictions.

The election's likely losers

💿 Data centers: Hinojosa made opposition to data centers a central argument in her campaign.

💰 School vouchers: The GOP apparatus that promoted private school vouchers — spearheaded by Gov. Greg Abbott — is out. Look for Democratic lawmakers in the House to argue that voucher money should instead go to public schools.

😳 Conservatives: The Texas GOP is in disarray. The intraparty finger-pointing has already begun, and conservatives will have to figure out their game plan going forward as they try to reassert their Trump-tarnished brand.

Universities, large cities and GOP appointees

✅ Democratic U.S. Rep. Greg Casar defeated Republican challenger Lauren Peña in the race for the Texas' 37th congressional district. (KUT)

🍹 Longtime Austin Tex-Mex spot Baby Acapulco is up for sale. (Austin Business Journal 🔒)

🐐 The Three Legged Goat, a Pflugerville bar and music venue, has closed over lease renewal issues. (Community Impact)

😱 A bat found alive on Main Street in Cedar Park has tested positive for rabies. (KVUE)

😵‍💫 Asher here, your still-zonked election correspondent.

What happened: I needed a pick-me-up yesterday after a near all-nighter.

• I had stayed up till 2:30am as we awaited local returns — and then set my alarm for 5:15am to make sure the newsletter was in good shape for our morning send.
• After helping get kids out the house, I jumped on a 10am Axios call to talk about upcoming political stories, 'cuz, y'know, a lot happened Tuesday.

What I drank: The iced ube matcha ($6.25) at Neko Yubu on the southern end of the Drag. Honestly, I don't even know if it's caffeinated, but the swirl of colors and the sweetness of the yam was enough to brighten me up.

Six-word review: Perfect drink for a tired reporter.

Thanks to Bob Gee, also tired, for his edits.

🚽 Asher had to get a new toilet — elongated! — and made sure to ask the plumbers to keep and install the old seat.

• He's very attached to it, because it's one of those classy wooden numbers.

🤤 Nicole is making chicken and dumplings for dinner.